Percussion musical instrument

ABSTRACT

A percussion musical instrument comprising a resonant plate and a hand manipulated striker block suspended from a body encircling belt permits the keeping of a cadence to a musical rendition.

Elite States Patent [191 risco, Sr.

[451 Jan. 14, 1975 PERCUSSION MUSICAL INSTRUMENT [76] Inventor: Joseph L. Brisco, Sr., 5437 Lynwood Ave., Baltimore, Md. 21215 [22] Filed: July 18, 1974 [21 Appl. No.: 489,727

[52] U.S. Cl "8 4/402, 46/191, 273/DIG. 19 [51] Int. Cl.' GlOd 13/08 [58] Field of Search 46/191; 84/402, 403, 404,

84/408, 409, 410, 411, 170; 273/DIG. 19, 97

3,224,774 12/1965 Klotz ..46/191X Primary Examiner-Lawrence R. Franklin Attorney, Agent, or Firm-John B. Dickman, Ill

[57] ABSTRACT A percussion musicalinstrument comprising a reso-- nant plate and a hand manipulated striker block suspended from a body encircling belt permits the keeping of a cadence to a musical rendition.

2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PERCUSSION MUSICAL INSTRUMENT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Music is the Universal Language and it would be very difficult to find a person who is not in some way moved by its tones, lyrics and rhythm.

Unfortunately, not everyone has the ability to make music, either vocal or by playing one of the musical instruments available.

Nonetheless most persons feel the urge to participate. This is evidenced by watching people in the presence of music. They will clap their hands, tap their feet, drum their fingers on a surface, or slap their knees or thighs in accompaniment to the rhythm.

While these acts involve the person in the music, there still remains a certain lack of a sense of participation.

In light of the foregoing there is a definite need for a musical instrument which is so simple in its operation and economical in its cost thatit will beavailable to most people.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates'to percussion musical instruments.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide a percussion musical instrument which is so simple in its operation that even persons with no musical talent may play and enjoy it. It is also an object of this invention to provide a percussion musical instrument which is manufactured from simple, economical materials to keep it in the price range of most persons.

The invention possesses'other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with 'the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing'made by the said drawing and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims. 1

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a percussion musical instrument assembly comprising a body encircling flexible belt 11 with a fastening means 12 such as a buckle, has a first pair of flexible straps 13 attached to it by suitable means 14 such as rivets or nuts and bolts.

Suspended from the first pair of flexible straps 13 is a resonant plate 15 such as a cymbal, configured in a substantially circular shape and having two substantially diametrically opposed ears 16 extending outwardly therefrom. Each outwardly extending ear 16 has an aperture l7 therethrough and the first pair of flexible straps 13 are fastened therein by suitable means to support the resonant plate 15 from the flexible belt 11.

A second pair of flexible straps 18 are secured by suitable means 19 such as nut and bolts or rivets to the body encircling flexible belt 11 at a position outward along the periphery of the flexible belt 11 and away from the first pair of flexible straps 13.

Suspended on the second pair of flexible straps 18 by suitable means 20 such as nails or screws is a striker block 21 made of suitable material such as wood, plastic or metal.

As shown in FIG. 3 the striker block 20 has a finger enclosing flexible strap 22 attached by suitable means 23 such as nails or screws to its outboard side 24.

In operation as shown in FIG. 4 the percussion musical instrument assembly 10 is placed about the waist and fastened by the fastening means 12. The assembly 10 is adjusted until the-resonant plate 15 is resting on the thigh of the wearer. The fingers of one hand are inserted under the finger enclosing flexible strap 22 and by pivoting the striker block 21 outward and upward and returning it inward to strike the resonant plate 15, a cadence may be kept to the rhythm of a musical rendition.

For the purpose of this application the body encircling flexible belt 11 is shown as being constructed of leather but any suitable material such as plastic, fabric or metal may be used. Also the striker block 20 is shown as being made of wood but plastic or metal may be used.

' From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary.. However, since numerous modifications and changes .will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A percussion musical instrument comprising:

a. a body encircling flexible belt having a fastening means; b. a first pair of flexible straps attached to said body encircling flexible belt by suitable means;

c. a resonant plate suspended from said first pair of flexible straps by suitable means;

d. a second pair of flexible straps attached to said body encircling flexible belt;

e. a striker block suspended on said second pair of flexible straps by suitable means; and

f. a finger enclosing flexible strap attached by suitable means to the outboard side of said striker block.

2. A percussion musical instrument as described in claim 1 wherein said second pair of flexible straps are attached to said body encircling flexible belt outboard of said first pair of flexible straps whereby the percussion musical instrument may be placed about the waist and fastened by said fastening means, said resonant plate may be adjusted to rest on the thigh, the fingers of one hand may be inserted under said finger enclosing flexible strap on said striker block and said striker block may be pivoted upward and outward and returned inward to strike said resonant plate, and a cadence may be kept to the rhythm of a musical rendition. 

1. A percussion musical instrument comprising: a. a body encircling flexible belt having a fastening means; b. a first pair of flexible straps attached to said body encircling flexible belt by suitable means; c. a resonant plate suspended from said first pair of flexible straps by suitable means; d. a second pair of flexible straps attached to said body encircling flexible belt; e. a striker block suspended on said second pair of flexible straps by suitable means; and f. a finger enclosing flexible strap attached by suitable means to the outboard side of said striker block.
 2. A percussion musical instrument as described in claim 1 wherein said second pair of flexible straps are attached to said body encircling flexible belt outboard of said first pair of flexible straps whereby the percussion musical instrument may be placed about the waist and fastened by said fastening means, said resonant plate may be adjusted to rest on the thigh, the fingers of one hand may be inserted under said finger enclosing flexible strap on said striker block and said striker block may be pivoted upward and outward and returned inward to strike said resonant plate, and a cadence may be kept to the rhythm of a musical rendition. 